Jamaal Franklin’s ankle may have hurt his draft status, but not nearly as much as his antics.

The San Diego State product’s talent is undeniable, but so is his propensity for turnovers and technicals.

Universally projected as a first-round pick in the NBA draft, Franklin slipped to No. 41 in what was easily Thursday’s most surprising descent. But Jamaal can point no fingers. He did this to himself.

In the days leading up to the draft, there was mounting speculation that Kawhi Leonard’s dazzling performance in the NBA Finals would affect Franklin’s stock. What nobody considered, however, was that it might affect it negatively.

Sure, Leonard and Franklin are both former Aztecs with Rocky Balboa-like work ethics, but other than that – the two are as different as carrots and cupcakes.

With Kawhi in 2011, the Spurs drafted a virtual mute who was beloved by SDSU fans and respected across the Mountain West. With Franklin Thursday night, the Grizzlies drafted a shooting guard who led the conference in technical fouls, polarized a fan base and was voted the Mountain West’s most-hated player of all time.

Leonard caused jaws to drop with his hands – the largest pair from his draft class. Franklin dropped jaws with his finger – the middle one, in particular – which he once isolated for an opposing fan.

This isn’t to say that Franklin is a bad guy. Three months ago, as the Aztecs were heading into their first-round game in the NCAA Tournament, I wrote that Jamaal was someone you can root for – an off-the-court gentleman who summoned his inner Hulk come tip-off in order to produce incredible results.

You think SDSU coach Steve Fisher, the Mountain West’s king of class, would accept that type of behavior on the practice floor? You think the former national-championship-winning coach would laud the 21-year-old as one of the most rousing leaders to ever play for him if it wasn’t true?

No, he wouldn’t. But scouts and general managers don’t get to follow their prospects year-round, all they get are Cliff’s Notes – and here’s what they said about Franklin.

They said that he stood 6-foot-4 but did not play point guard, meaning his offensive value hinges on his ability to score on defenders 2-to-8 inches taller. They said that he made just 28-percent of his 150 3-point attempts last year, which is ominous considering that the NBA 3-point line is three feet farther out.

They said that he committed 112 turnovers, 49 more than any of his teammates, and that his defense was middle-of-the-pack at best. And when you’re a 6-4 shooting guard without a specialty or a particular attachment to the basketball, NBA execs are more likely to roll their eyes than raise their eyebrows.

Who knows, though. Perhaps, as ESPN college basketball writer Andy Katz signaled on Twitter, Franklin was the steal of the draft. Maybe, as ESPN analyst Jay Bilas’ “best available” board indicated, Jamaal deserved to be among the top 20 selected.

There’s no question, after all, that Franklin was the soul of San Diego State as a junior last season – leading the Aztecs in points, rebounds, assists and steals. And there’s no refuting that he was the best player on the floor in SDSU’s first-round win over Oklahoma in the Tournament.

But college dominance, as we’ve seen with Jimmer Fredette, Juan Dixon, and a litany of other NCAA standouts, doesn’t always translate to NBA success. And while Franklin no doubt showcased his value during his time with the Aztecs, his volatility was just as conspicuous.

It’s been said that, with Jamaal, you can’t have one player without the other – that what triggers the bad also fuels the good. At this point, however, to let his talent shine, he has to let part of himself go.